Semi-automatic winding-machine



S.THRONSEN;

SEMI-AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 30, I916.

1,86%QQQ ,4 W am 3 S. THRONSEN.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE. APPLICATIYON FILED SEPT. 30, 1916.

1,367,999. Patented Feb. 8,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. fizz/Q7120 21 Szyurd Thmnsen UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I SIGURD THRONSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF. NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC WINDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed September 30, 1916. Serial No. 123,028.

for use with the winding'machine shown and described in U. S. patent to Arthur H. Adams No. 1,117 ,620, issued November 17 1914. i

The object of this invention is to provide an improved wire feeding means which will automatically serve and lay the wire on the winding spool or bobbin in uniformly even, smooth layers.

Another object is to provide a wire feeding means which will compensate for commercial variations in the diameter of the wire. v

A further object consists in means to maintain a constant spaced relationship between the wire feeding arm and the last layer of wire on the spool; the .distance between the feeding arm and the wire .on the spool being such that it merely allows clearance space for the rotation of said spool.

Wire wound spools are now used in practically all branches of the electrical art, and spools as used in some of these arts, especially telephony, must be held to' -'very close requirements as to turns and electrical resistance. To meet these requirements it is essential that thewire be served in such a way that it will not pile up in the winding operation, that is, the turns of wire in each layer must be served to the spool in such a manner that the helical convolutions of wire in each layer will be closely wound and will lay between substahtially the same planes. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in automatic wire -feed winding machines, due to the commercial variations in the diameter of the wire and the consequent natural tendency of the wire to pile up. For the purpose of overcoming this trouble it has been customary to introduce interleaving papers between every few layers which would tend to straighten out and smoothen irregularities in the winding surface. These windin difliculties are particularly accentuated 1n winding wires larger than No. 30 B. S. gage. This invention is applicable for smooth winding with wires of practically all sizes, smooth windings having been wound with wires ranging from No. 27 to No. 36 B. S. gage, both-inclusive. In the preferred embodiment of the invention it has been applied to the winding machine disclosed in the aforesaid U; S. patent, but it Wlll be evident that it can be readily adapted to any type of winding machine in which' smooth winding is desired.

The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the winding machine illustrating the invention as applied to the winding machine described in the said prior patent;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the wire feeding mechanism with the front wire guide roller removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3 s of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism controlling the lateral adjustment of the feeding arm;

Fig. 5 illustrates a vertical section of the base plate of the wire feeding means with the adjustable slide in position;

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the circuit controlling the magnetic clutch of the winding machine and the stepping device of the feeding mechanism;

7 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 isa detail illustrating the means utilized for controlling the wire guide retracting mechanism.

The operation of the driving elements of the winding machine is identical with thatdisclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,117 ,620 and hence in the following description this operation will not be-descrlbed except where it becomes essential for a proper understandin of thewire guide and feeding mechan1sm.' The operating elements of the winding machine are mounted on a frame 10 which can be readily attached to any suitable table or bench by means of screws or bolts. The machine may be driven by any suitable means, such as the electric motor 11 which is connected to the shaft 12 by means of the insulating bushing 13. Revolutions of the shaft 12 are transmitted to the spool 14 and likewise to the shaft 15 which, through suitable gearing, transmits its motion to the driving pulley 16. The driving pulley 16 controls a belt 17 which movesbetween said pulley and the idler pulley 18. The idler pulley 18 is mounted on a frame 19 which is adjustably mounted on the track 20, said adjustment being controlled by the thumb screw 21. Mounted on the track 20 is the tail block 24 which carries the electromagnets 25 and 26 which control an armature 27, by meansof which the movement of the belt 17 is transmitted to a reciprocating arm 28. The arm 28 is loosely mounted in the head block 29 and is pivotally secured to an adjustment nut slidably mounted in the slot 30. The position of the adjustment nut determines the lead of the machine, and this adjustment is controlled by the screw 31 which is readily adjusted by the thumb screw 32. j

The base plate 33 of the wire feeding mechanism is rigidly secured to the head blck 29 by the screws 34 and 35. Attached to the base plate 33 are the parallel disposed bars 36, 37 38, and 39 which serve to hold the plate 40 in aslot in the plate 33, in which said plate 40 is loosely and slidably fitted. This is illustrated in Fig. 5. Pivotally mounted on the plate 40 by means of the pin 50 is the laterally adjustable plate 51. This plate has secured to its forward end a wire guiding arm 43, and directly in back of this arm is a steady pin 44 secured to a plate 45 which is adjustably mounted on the plate 51 by means of the screw 46. Attached to the rear end of the plate 51 by means of the screw 52 is a friction plate 53 which is held between a pair of oil saturated felt pads attached to the plates 54 and 55 respectively.

The wire guiding arm 43 comprises a pair of thin relatively flexible plates 47 and 48 which are exactly similar in shape and size. As more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the plate 48, which is there shown in side elevation, has its front edge curved down to a projectmg point or extension 49 which is adapted to extend beneath and partially embrace or inclose the spool 14. The plate 47 is the same'in profile as the plate 48. The curvature of the plates 47 and 48 into the exten sions 49, whic partiallyinclose or embrace the spool, -per its the Wire to be guided .to the spool at the point where it is fed upon the spool, thereby reducing to a minimum the amount of free wire between the feeding arm and the coil. The plates 47 and 48 can be made thin enough so that the feeding arm can be brought sufiiciently close tothe spool heads to permit the wire to be fed into the coil at the ends of the windings in smooth even layers.

Secured to the under side of the forward end of the base plate 51 is an arm 66 which functions to operate the circuit breaker controlling the circuit of the electromagnets which carry the armature 27 and thereby controls the movement of the reciprocating arm 28. Mounted on the rear end of the plate 33 is the electromagnet 56, the arma ture 57 of which controls the pawl 58 which coiiperates with the ratchet wheel 59. A spring pressed holding pawl 60 serves to hold said ratchet wheel in its displaced position and is controlled by an arm 61 which extends to the front end of'the machine and which may be depressed to withdraw said holding pawl and thereby return the ratchet wheel 59 to normal, under the tension of a spring 64 which is tensioned between a rearwardly depending pin 65 and the periphery of a pin controlling the nlovement of the ratchet 59. Attached to the upper surfaceof the ratchet 59 is a cam which is firmly held against a pin 71 by means of the spring 64. .The ratchet 59 and its cotiperating cam 70 are mounted on a cross piece 72 which is fastened to the base plate 33 and which bridges the slidable plate 40 so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of said plate. Consequently whenever the electromagnet 56 is operated the pawl 58 will step up the ratchet 59 one tooth and, this will cause the cam 70 to bear on the pin 71 which is attached to the plate 7 3 rigidly secured to the plate 40 and thereby the plate 40 will be given a rearward movement, the amount of said movement depending upon the curvature and design of the cam 70. A different shaped cam is necessarily used for each size of wire.

The operation of the machine is as fol lows:

The wire which is to be wound on the spool is first threaded through the front guide roller 75. then through the rear guide roller 76 and from there it is placed on the inner side of the steady pin 44 and through the guide arm 43. after which it is secured to the spool on which the wire is to be wound. The lead of the reciprocating arm 28 is then adjusted for the diameter of the wire which is to be wound and circuit changing devices 80 and 81 are set for the length of the spool on which the wire is to be wound. The machine is then started and, due to the move ment of the reciprocating arm 28. the first layer of wire is wound on the spool core. When the first layer of wire has been com pleted the projecting arm 66 will strike the circuit breaker 81 which will open the circuit of the electromagnet 26 and consequently the armature 27 will be attracted by the electromagnet 25, thereby reversing the movement of the reciprocating arm 28. The energization of the electromagnet 26 will also operate a plunger 82 and this will close a contact between the springs 83 and 84, thereby completing the circuit of the electromagnet 56. This electromagnet in its operation, through the action of the pawl 58. will advance the ratchet wheel 59 one tooth and thus, through the cotiperation of the cam 70, the spring 64, and the slidable plate 40, remove the wire feeding arm 43 from the outer periphery of the spool a distance equal to the diameter of the wire being wound. hen a spool has been completely wound and removed from the machine the arm 61 is depressed whichwithdraws the holding pawl opposing faces of which clamp a wire 90 which is strun between the side walls of the machine. The action of the spring clamp 89 in conjunction with the wire 90 is such that when the movement of the reciprocat ing arm 28 is reversed, the friction created between the clamp 89 and the wire 90 will be sufficient to move the plate 88 about its pivot 88'. The springs 83 and 84 which are rigidly secured to the plate 88 will be shifted therebyso that they will rest over the operating plunger 25 of the electromagnet 25. \Vhen the movement of the reciprocating arm 28 is again reversed, the action of the clamp 89 and the wire .90 will move the springs 83 and 84 back to the position over the plunger 82 of the electromagnet 26. This action will be repeated upon each reversal ,in the movement of the reciprocating arm 28.

The common armature 27 of the electromagnets 25 and 26 in its neutral position rests between the inclined surfaces of two blocks 101 and 102 (see Fig. 8), Each of these blocks 101 and 102 is secured to the end of a spring 103 and 104 respectively, and the plungers 25' and 82 ride between the springs 103 and 104 and their associated springs 105 and 106. The springs 103 and 105 hold the plunger 82 in position, and the springs 104 and 106 hold the plunger 25 in position. hen the armature 27 is energized in either direction, the end thereof will ride'over the inclined surface of one of the blocks 101 or 102, depending upon the direction of movement of said armature, and will thereby raise the spring 84 to close a contact between it and the associated spring 83. While this form of circuit changer operates very efficiently with the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that any other type of circuit changing means operated upon each reversal in the movement of the machine may be readily substituted therefor.

The circuit for the electromagnet 56 is closed simultaneously with the circuit of the operating electromagnets 25 and 26 and consequently this retraction of the feeding arm 43 occurs simultaneously with the reversal in movement of the reciprocating arm 28. The Wire feeding arm 43 in the process of winding is held as close to the outer periphery of the spool as is possible. that is, the space intervening between the Wire feeding arm 43 and the spool 14 is just sufficient to allow enough clearance so that the spool may freely revolve. This spaced relationship between the outer periphery of the spool and the feeding arm is constantly maintained as the wire is laid on the spool, and the increased diameter of the spool, due tothe layers of wire which are placed thereon, is compensated for by the operation of the electromagnet 56 which retracts the feeding arm 43 a distance equal to the diameter of the wire after each layer of Wire is laid on the spool. I

In setting the machine for a certain size of wire the lead of the reciprocating arm 28 is set for the minimum size of the wire and no provision is made to take care of the commercial variations in the diameter of the wire. Although this variation may be slight, it will. when multiplied by the number of turns per layer, very frequently be sufficient to cause the wire to pile up or fall in between other turns which would produce irregularity and rough winding. This variation in the wire, according to this invention, is taken care of by the yieldablv adjustable plate 51, to which the wire feeding arm 43 is attached.

As hereinbefore described, a rearwardly extending plate 53 is secured to the plate 51, the plate being frictionally held between felt washers secured to the plates 54 and 55. This felt is oil saturated, and the combined action of the felt and oil on the plate 53 results ina combined viscous and frictional holding force which results in a substantially constant resisting force to the displacement of the plate 53. The amount of this force is readily adjustable by means of of the wire feeding arm 43, and this will allow said arm to move sidewise and overcome the holding force of the friction plate.

This will prevent the wire from piling up on the preceding turn. This action is automatic and continues for any variation in the wire, and the angle at which the wire is fed 'on the spool is thus very slowly increased according to the commercial variations in winding.

The combined action of the antomatic lateral and longitudinal means for adjusting the position of the wire feeding arm 43 makes it possible to keep said feeding 'arm very close to the outerperipheral surface of the spool winding and to adjust the lead of the winding machine to the nominal diameter of the Wire which is being wound, the variations in the diameter of the wire being compensated for by the lateral adjustment.

This makes the feeding of this wire on the spool substantially the equivalent of hand winding and. consequently results in the winding of extremely smooth, even layers. When very fine wire is wound by this method the yieldable retaining force of the lateral adjusting means must be made extremely small, this adjustment being concontrolled by means of the thumb screw 86. When thisretaining force has been greatly reduced, there is a tendency to move the Wire feeding arm 43 by the vibration of-the length of wire extending between the wire guide-roller 76 and the feeding arm 43. To prevent this vibration the steady pin -44 is provided, Therefore, when the smaller gages of wire are to be wound, such as No. 36 B. S. gage for example, the pin 44 is moved by means of the adjustment screw 46, so that the wire will bear against the surface of the pin and this will break up thisvibration. The use of Such a steady pin prevents any shifting of the wire guiding means through the vibration of the-wire.

Although the preferred form of this invention has been described in connection with U. S. Patent'No. 1,117,620, it will be evident to those skilled in the' art that it can be applied to other types of winding machines in which smooth winding is desired, and likewise that the structural elements of the invention herein described are capable of many variations without depart-1 mg from its spirit andscope, as set forth in.

' which partially inclose the periphery of thereto, a pair of oppositelydisposed plates cooperating with said first named plate, and means comprising oil saturated pads for maintaining a viscous connection between the contacting surfaces of said first-mentioned plate and said pair of plates whereby said feeding arm is held against lateral displacement by a constant yieldable retaining force. 2. A wire gulde comprising in combinacally operated step-by-step means actuated toretract said arm "a distanceequal to the diameter ofvsaid wire at certain prescribed intervals.

3. A wire guide comprising in combination, a wire feeding arm, a plate connected thereto, a pair of oppositely disposed plates having their opposed surfaces separated by said first mentioned plate saidplates cooperating to control the lateral position assumed by said arm, and electromagnetic step-by-step operated mean'sfor controlling the longitudinal position of said arm.

'4. In a device'of the character described, the combination of a rotatable spindle, a spool rotatable therewith, a reciprocating wire feeding mechanism, means including an arm comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates which partially inclose the pe riphery of said spool for feeding the wire to said spool, said means operated by said wire for lateral adjustment whereby the Wire is laid on said spool in smooth, even layers, and means operated upon each reversalof said feeding mechanism to withdraw said first-mentioned means from said diameter of the wire.

5; In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable spindle, a spool rotatable therewith, a reciprocating wire feeding'mechanism, a pair of oppositely disposed oilsaturated, felt covered plates, and means for feeding the wire to said spool comprising an extended plate frictionallyheld between said felt covered plates, said means being automatically adjustable by the wire in the winding operation against said friction whereby the wire is laid on said spool in smooth, even layers.

6. In a device for winding a plurality of layers of wire on a spool, a rotatable spindle, a spool rotatable therewith, a reciprocating wire feeding mechanism, an arm comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates 7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable spindle, a spool rotatable therewith,a reciprocating wire feeding mechanism, a pair of oppo sitely disposed oil saturated, felt covered plates, means for feeding the wire to said spool comprising an extended plate frictionally held between said felt covered plates, said means being automatically adjustable by the wire in the winding operation against said friction, and a steady pin placed in the path of said wire toprevent vibration of said wire.

8. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotatable spindle, a spool connect ed therewith, a wire guiding means, means to retract said means, a yieldable wire feed-1 ing arm which is laterally adjustable by the wire in the operation of winding the spool whereby said wire is fed on said spool in smooth even layers, and mechanically operated means for instantaneously varying the yieldability of said arm.

9. A wire guide comprising in combination, a wire feeding arm, a plate connected thereto, a pair of oppositely disposed plates cooperating with ,said first named plate, means for maintaining a viscous connection between the contacting surfaces of said firstmentioned plate and said pair of plates whereby said feeding arm is held against lateral displacement by a constant, yieldable, retaining force, and mechanically operated means cooperating with said pair of oppositely disposed plates for instantaneously varying the yieldability of said retaining force.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of Sept. A. D., 1916.

I SIGUR-D THRONSEN. 

